William Baldwin
A versatile actor who carved his own path beyond the Baldwin family name, moving from Hollywood heartthrob to respected character player.
Born 1963 (age 63)·American actor·Birthday: February 21·Baby Boomers
Biography
In the early 1990s, William Baldwin emerged as part of the Hollywood wave that included his famous brothers, but he quickly established his own screen identity. With his boyish charm, he landed leading roles in major studio films like the medical thriller "Flatliners" and the firefighter drama "Backdraft." His turn in the erotic thriller "Sliver" cemented his status as a leading man of the moment. As the film industry shifted, Baldwin adeptly transitioned into character roles, showing a willingness to poke fun at his own image, as in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." He has worked steadily in television, starring in series like "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Northern Rescue," and often appears in independent films. Married to singer Chynna Phillips of the group Wilson Phillips since 1995, his life off-screen has been notably stable, allowing him to pursue a durable, varied career on his own terms.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
William was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When William Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
William's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as a rookie firefighter in the major box office hit and cultural touchstone "Backdraft."
- Played a central role in the psychological thriller "Flatliners" alongside Kiefer Sutherland and Julia Roberts.
- Portrayed the morally complex patriarch of the Darling family on the ABC drama series "Dirty Sexy Money."
Did You Know?
He is married to Chynna Phillips, a member of the 1990s pop group Wilson Phillips.
He worked as a political campaign manager and in construction before becoming an actor.
He is a dedicated advocate for animal rights and has worked with PETA.
“I'm not a firefighter, but I played one in a movie, and I learned what real courage looks like.”
